1:1 Millennium Falcon Cockpit Replica - Group Build

Loosebruce704 said:

Have you considered a sliding system for the chairs I know it's not 100% canon but abit of poetic licence to allow for people getting in and out without damaging stuff has to be allowed, simply have the chairs slide back and spin 90° person gets in chair spins back then slides forward into place.

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Hey LB,

This was our previous seat configuration. We used office furniture swing arms. As you can see the horizontal arms swing both at the mount base and under the seat. The seat also swivels which allows for a wide range of motion. We might go back to this configuration depending on how much space we have "under" the nose platform.



It worked REALLY well but put a tremendous amount of strain on the platform. I think we can overcome that if the metal base is larger and carries more of the load and stress.

One metal bases going across would do the trick. The load is transferred on each side when the chair are moved to the middle of the platform. No strain on the side since the movement is minimal.

joberg said:

One metal bases going across would do the trick. The load is transferred on each side when the chair are moved to the middle of the platform. No strain on the side since the movement is minimal.

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Hey J,

We're working that exact process now. The one thing we have to take into consideration is weight of the metal. If this was a simple home prop I wouldn't think much of it but with conventions coming up, we have to think long term durability as well as form and function.

SofaKing01 said:

If this was a simple home prop I wouldn't think much of it but with conventions coming up, we have to think long term durability as well as form and function.

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Are you signed up to display at Celebration in Orlando 2017? What other cons are you going to try to display at?

Understood, but to make sure, the thickness of the metal should be at least 1/4 inch. To make it real solid, that metal should have a twin bar under your platform as well, but that's making it heavy, especially if you have to undo and transport that platform from Con to Con. I think the thickness of your plywood base will do the trick...for now at least.

TXarmory said:

Are you signed up to display at Celebration in Orlando 2017? What other cons are you going to try to display at?

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Hey TX,

No Cons planned as of yet. We're still unsure of SWC in Orlando. Things are really sketchy right now with cost, manpower, travel, etc... I don't even know if the cockpit will be finished by then.

Not the best news...

joberg said:

Understood, but to make sure, the thickness of the metal should be at least 1/4 inch. To make it real solid, that metal should have a twin bar under your platform as well, but that's making it heavy, especially if you have to undo and transport that platform from Con to Con. I think the thickness of your plywood base will do the trick...for now at least.

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Hey J,

OH DEF 1/4" or thicker. As you may know we've designed the nose so there are two separate platform covers using 3/4" ply. I'm hoping that the 1/4" will be thick/light enough to support the swing arms without too many other misc steel reinforcements.

There's always aluminum... but that's get pricey!

Hi Gang,

Time for an early Monday morning update! Lots of work with the laser cutter this weekend... Enjoy!

Created a bunch of new greeblies












So what are all these things?


Let's get moving! Added filler


Adhered the top plate - round knob to be added later


Trimmed top plate to match angle


Time to sand smooth




After filler and more sanding I added some paint!


Drilled a hole trough the top


Counter sunk hole for the nut


Added the knob and then mounted into place along with the small silver screen just above






During all of this I adhered a lot of little pieces together







Added filler... as always


From this point its going to get a bit random but I'll try to explain...






Time to make three of these of oddly shaped greeblies


Tops




Pressure Switch greeblie






Top




Foot Well Greeblie


New Access Panel pieces


Whew... That's a LOT of sanding


I laser cut new screens


Added filler to the three upper panel greeblies


Adding some visual detail to the foot well greeblie base




Filler Sanding Filler Sanding Filler Sanding...


More visual detail


Foot Well Greeblie Panel with Details










Pressure Switch greeblie


New grab handles


FINALLY!!! We added some color!






Foot Well Base


Another upper panel greeblie




LOTS of primer filler - 5 coats to fill in / cover imperfections


Black


In the laser cutter to dry




Cut some bolts


Grabbed some adhesive


Adhered the bolts through the bottom of the foot well greeblies for mounting


Pressure plate - found a few little errors


SILVER!














Time to adhere the foot well panel together


SNAP... ugh




Foot well greeblie in basic position... the question is what color do I paint the main panel? Black like the rubber floor matting or the light grey and add some pin strips?






Still need to finish the greeblies and add some slight weathering - not sure about the silver. Maybe a grey?




With single screen


Double Screen?


Whew... The Volvo panels are going to be addressed VERY soon. Still working a few issues (as always) More to Follow!

Awesome work as always Sofa!

Foot well greeblie in basic position... the question is what color do I paint the main panel? Black like the rubber floor matting or the light grey and add some pin strips?

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You could always add some of the floor matting to the front part of the panel as well, make it look like a continuation of the floor?

Roughneckone:cool

Like it, like it, like it. Be careful with the color or it will blend in with the footwell color -maybe go gray with back and silver details?

Great update (as always).

Superb Monday update, just what the Dr ordered.

The work is wonderful, but you should work on the logistics of actually showing your build to the public at some point, or the project will become pointless, other than your personal satisfaction. You should also assign a cut-off date, set in stone, so you don't keep on "improving" the build until no one remember what movie it comes from ...

Roughneckone said:

Awesome work as always Sofa!

You could always add some of the floor matting to the front part of the panel as well, make it look like a continuation of the floor?

Roughneckone:cool

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Hey RN,

Thanks! I'm going to Photoshop a few ideas and see which one works best. I still want to add some pin stripes to the actual greeblie to mirror the gunner stations panels. i think that might help with the overall design.

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Snow Builder said:

Like it, like it, like it. Be careful with the color or it will blend in with the footwell color -maybe go gray with back and silver details?

Great update (as always).

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Hey SB,

Thanks so much! DEF thinking a grey-ish color for that panel. I might remove the silver paint and go with a light grey. But I really want to leave the smaller round greeblies black. Decisions Decisions...

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Wavey said:

Superb Monday update, just what the Dr ordered.

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Thank you, my friend!

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Sourdoh said:

The work is wonderful, but you should work on the logistics of actually showing your build to the public at some point, or the project will become pointless, other than your personal satisfaction. You should also assign a cut-off date, set in stone, so you don't keep on "improving" the build until no one remember what movie it comes from ...

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Hi S,

Thanks so much! We've done several shows but lately the cockpit has been it such a state of chaos I've held back scheduling anything. And you are correct, there is a point when I have to stand back and call it finished. THEN take everything I've learned and apply it to the new cockpit.

She'll ALWAYS be the ESB version. Unfortunately, there just aren't enough images of key areas so I've had to reference the EP VII cockpit.

There will come a day when you're finished???... Over my dead body!!!

trainman said:

There will come a day when you're finished???... Over my dead body!!!

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LOL! Oh no... not to worry! When this one is finished I'll probably start a new one using both the laser cutter and a CNC. I might even build a XWing cockpit?

Thank you for taking the time to take all these great photos, load them up and share them with us. That in itself is a whole other level of dedication. Your work here is superb!

Randy13 said:

Thank you for taking the time to take all these great photos, load them up and share them with us. That in itself is a whole other level of dedication. Your work here is superb!

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Hi Randy!

Thank you so much for the kind words! It has been an absolute joy sharing this build with everybody! I hope the updates inspire others to get out and be creative and build something no matter what it might be!

Good News: I have a two 4 day weekends coming up so I'm "hoping" (I don't predict anymore) to have some major forward progress and of course... lots of photos to show!

Thanks again! I appreciate the support. It's you guys/gals that keep me moving forward.

These footwell greeblies look like they are shaping up most excellently! I can't wait to see what just a hint of weathering will do to them!

Friendly flyer said:

These footwell greeblies look like they are shaping up most excellently! I can't wait to see what just a hint of weathering will do to them!

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Hi FF,

Thanks! I'm really happy with how they turned out. I'm going to pour over the countless images I have of the gunner station to make sure I weather them in a similar manner. Fingers crossed!

This is such an amazing build. I love seeing updates.